Ridge wheel for ladders



Feb. 10, 1942. v T, N, O EN 2,272,642

RIDGE WHEEL FOR LADDERS Filed June ,27, 1940 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UlTED STATES 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a ridge wheel for ladders and I declare the following to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof sufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which can be removably attached to the upper end of a ladder, whereby the workman can roll the upper free end of the ladder up the side of the roof and over the ridge thereof by manipulating the lower end.

This device will be found useful particularly by roofers who climb to the eaves of the roof on one ladder then push a second ladder up onto the roof, whereby to reach the ridge thereof or other parts of the roof between the eaves and the ridge.

The attachment will act also as an anchor, whereby to hold the ladder on the roof.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device attached to the upper part of a ladder.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which one of the members is formed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame employed and immediate parts.

Fig. 4 is a detail view enlarged showing a perspective of a clamp member employed.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the device embodies a member I made preferably of metal. Member I has a hook 2 formed at one end by bending part 3 back upon itself at 4. The opposite end of member I is bent substantially at right angles at 5 to provide a part 6.

The free end of part 6 is split at I and each of the split parts 8, 8 is twisted to turn parts 8, 8 at right angles to part 6, whereby to form bearing surfaces for supporting an axle 9 for wheel in. Axle 9 has a tight or riveted fit in aperture H, I made in the upper portion of parts 8, 8.

An adjustable clamp I5 is removably attached to part 3 of member I by headed bolt 20. Bolt 20 projects through an elongated recess 2| made in clamp l5. The upper portion of bolt 20 adjacent the head is square shaped at 22. Part 22 projects through a square shaped aperture made in part 3 of member I. The lower part of bolt 20 is rounded and has external threads 23 for engaging in a threaded socket made in winged nut 24. The outer enlarged part 25 of winged nut 24 will engage contiguous surface of clamp l5. The free end of clamp I5 is bent downward to form a hook 26 that cooperates with hook 2 hereinbefore mentioned, whereby to hold the attachment to the upper rungs 21, 28 of the ladder 29, as hereinafter explained.

In operation member I can be removably attached to a ladder 29 by engaging hook part 2 of member I in the next to last top rung 21 of ladder 29, and then adjusting clamp 15, whereby to engage its hook 26 with the top rung 28 of ladder 29. In now pushing the top end 30 of ladder 29 up the side of roof, wheel in will run over the shingles or other roof covering without injuring the same as well as make the task easier for the workman. Furthermore, the wheel I 0 and right angle portion 6 will be pushed over the ridge of the roof, not shown, and serve as a hook to hold the ladder securely in place on the roof, whereby to enable the workman to climb up to the ridge or roof in perfect safety. This device will allow the laborer to work on any part of the roof adjacent the ladder from the eaves to the roof. It can be moved laterally along the roof at the will of the laborer to reach other portions thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a ridge wheel for ladders, a member having a hook formed thereon for engaging a rung of the ladder, a clamping member having an elongated recess made therein, a bolt and winged nut for holding said clamping member to said first named member in an adjusted position,

whereby said clamping member will cooperate with said hook to hold the device to a ladder, a portion of said first named member bent at right angle thereto, and the ends of said portionbeing twisted to form bearings for supporting a wheel to aid in moving the device along the roof surface.

2. In a ridge wheel for ladders, a member having a hook formed on the end thereof, a clamping member having an elongated slot for engaging said first named member, a headed bolt projecting through said first named member and through said elongated slot in the clamping member, a winged nut engaging said bolt, whereby to hold the clamping member in an adjusted position relative to first named member, a hook formed on said clamping member and adapted to cooperate with said first named hook, whereby to hold the device to the rungs of the ladder, a portion of said first named member bent at right by to cooperate with said first named hook to hold the device to the rungs of a ladder, a portion of said first named member bent at right angles thereto, the ends of said portion being split and the parts thereof turned at right angles thereto to form bearings and a shaft carrying a wheel supported in said bearings, whereby to aid in moving the device and to hold it in relative position to a roof.

TREVOR N. OWEN. 

